Device for dispensing the equipment necessary for the practice of feminine hygiene



June 23, 1931. Q M BELL 1,811,345

DEVICE FOR DISPENSING THE EQUIPMENT NECESSARY FOR THE PRACTICE OFFEMININE HYGIENE Filed Feb. lO, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l IE l INVENTORGaherz'fze M. Bell ATTORN EY5 June 23, 1931. c. M. BELL 1,811,345

` DEVICE FOR DISPENSING THE EQUIPMENT NECESSARY FOR THE PRACTICE OFFEMININE HYGIENE Filed Feb. lO. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 '/l//l/ /ll/ /l//l/ Fi E' INVENTOR Oaheine #0.13622 ATTORN EYS June 23. 1931. c. M. BELL1,811,345

DEVICE FOR DISPENSING THE EQUIPMENT NECESSARY FOR THE PRACTICE OFFEMININE HYGIENE Filed Feb. lO. 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 'T CURRENT y IOO Zql 50p/n.51

c m 'NVE/@ORB 21 Ti E a e'zrze e ATTOR N EY5 Patented June 23, 1931ITED' STATES PATENrYoFl-lcs CATHERINE M. BELL, 0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTONDEVICE FOR DISIENSIN G THE EQUIPMENT NECESSARY FOR THE PRACTICE 0F FEMI-NINE HYGIENE lApplication filed February 10, 1980. Serial No. 427,127.

My presentA invention relates to the improvements in devices fordispensing the equipment necessary for the practice of feminine hygiene.

It has been very difficult in the past for a woman to obtain theequipment necessary for this purpose except in her own home. It is thepurpose of my invention, therefore,

To provide means whereby hygienic equipment may be made available atplaces elsewhere than the individuals residence.

A further object is to provide means whereby hygienic equipment may bemaintained in a perfectly sterile condition.

A further object'is to provide means whereby warm water and properchemicals may be dispensed for use.

Other and more specific objects will be ap' parent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, whereinFigure 1 is a cross sectional view through my device taken on a planeparallel to the wall upon which it is mounted.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken at right angles to Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plane view of my device.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view showin certain elements of .my devicethat it is dithcult to show in the sectional views.

Figure 5is a digrammatic view showing the circuit arrangement of mydevice.

Figure 6 is an end elevation showing the control end of my device.

'Referring to the drawings throughout, which like reference charactersindicate like parts, numeral 10 designates the main cabinet of mydevice, having a coin released door 12 which is pivoted on the hinges14. Located fairly centrally in my cabinet is a solution mixingreservoir 16 having a bottom 18 arranged to drain to a common discharge20. Secured within reservoir 16 is an electrical heatingelement 22 ofany type suitable for heating water. This is provided with the usualterminals 24 and 25 to which 'are at tached conducting wires 27 and 29respectively. Also disposed within the .reservoir 16 1s a dual metalthermostat 26 which in turn 1s mounted in a partially revolvable pivotmemusedfor flushing purposes.

to loosely connect the thermostat 26 with the K valve member. Serving asa cover for reservoir 16 is a chemical chamber 38 which is adapted to.be partially filled with the desired .solutions from an inverted bottle40. Following the principle of the chicken watering device the level ofthe solution chamber 38 will be slightly above the bottom of the neck ofbottle 40. Bottle 40 may be secured in place by any means which willmake its removal by unauthorized person difcult. Disposed within chamber38 is a closed spoon member 42 having a lling opening 44 in itslowermost surface. This is provided with a journal 46 and has a hollowstem down to the discharge opening 48. Spoon 42 may be connected to thecoin operated mechanism by any suitable means, as by the universalcoupling 50.

'Water is supplied to reservoir 16 from the g supply pipe 52 by themeasuring valve 54 which is a small size of the 'ype commonly his is oerated by the push rod 56 which is connec to the coin operatedmechanism.

Behind reservoir 16 is provided` a storage lrack 58 which is adapted tostore a number of nozzles or irrigating tips'.60. For use in my device Iprefer to use a type which is of such inexpensive construction that itmay be destroyed after being used once. This is provided inthe parailinepaper types. In order to eject a single tube for each operation of thecoin actuated mechanism I provide that the lowermost tube 6() rest on ashelf member 62 and be retained there by springs 64'. As door -12 isclosed it will actuate, through the lug 66, the rack bar 68 which willcause the ejection permitting the tube to roll down the incline 70 andbe available for use.

I further provide rubber tubing 72 adapted to carry fluid from discharge2O to the point of use. While any type of rubber tubing might be used,Iprefer to use that type'which is armored with metal to the end that itwill not be cut and carried away by unauthorized persons. I prefer tostore tubing 72 on a. reel 73 and inclose the entire reel in a housing74 to the end that a fuming disinfectant 75 stored below the tubing mayycompletely sterilize the same after each use. To insure Y that thetubing will be reeled up after each use I provide a coil spring 76 whichis secured to the revolving reel at 78 and to the fixed shaft 79 by theclamp 80. After the rubber tubing is pulled from the reel it is againstthe tension of spring 76 which will immedin ately restore it when theoperator releases it.

A connection permitting the flow of fluid from the fixed discharge 2 0to the revolving Vabuts. In this position spring 76 having returned thetubing to its rolled up position has nearly spent its energy, so.I haveprovided the flanges of reel 73 with gear teeth at 86 which are adaptedto engage fixed pinons on shaft 88. The other end of shaft 88 issupplied with fixed inions 89 which engage rack 69; thus the closingmotion of door 12 exerts ya very powerful turning movement to the reel73 and draws the tubing inside of the housing 74 to a position indicatedin Figure 2. It will naturally follow that an opening movement of door12 will serve to expel sufliciently of tubing 72 so it may be grasped bythe user and the -tube 60 applied thereto.

In Figure 4 I have shown in some detail the coin operating means and theelectrical switch. A coin holder 90 is pivotally supported on shaft 91and is adapted to'receive an operating coin C. After member .90 isturned to the right in the direction indicated,

lif a coin is not inserted as shown,a aw member 92 will connectwith itscoacting jaw 93 and hmit `any movement. If, however, a com be insertedas shown, the coin will engage the cam surface 95 which in turn willcause thefrelease lever 97 to revolve about the ixed point 98. This willrelease door 12 so it may be opened. Further, it will actuate the watervalve ush rod 56 and the electrical switch 100. witch 100 may be of anydesired type. I have shown a conventional snap type lhaving an actuatingspring 102 pivoted at a xed pivot 104 and secured to the switch bar asat 106. rAfter the connecting bar 108 is moved mpwardly the switchtoggles past center under action of spring 102 snaps into the closedposition bringing contacts 110 and 112 in electrical engagement.

"" In Figure ,6 I have shown for sake of clearness an end view of mydevice as it would be secured to the supporting wall 114.

i Method of operation In operating my device, it is first necessary forthev operator to place a coin of a certain denomination in the receivingcut of member 90. By means of handle 116 member 90 is re- `'volved totheright. This causes the following sequence of operation: l

First, door .12 is released and .may be opened. The upward pushon rod 56causes ameasured amount of water, usually 2 quarts,

to be deposited inreservoir 16. Simultaneously therewith the switch 100is operated to close the electrical circuit, thus heating the waterheating coil 22. As handle 116 is revolved further, a measured amount ofmedical solution is discharged through opening 48 into reservoir 16where it is readily mixed by the rush of incoming water. Thisoperation'may be witnessedA by the user through means of theglassinspection plates 118. While the element 22 is heatingpthe water inreservoir 16, the operator should first set dial 30 to the desiredtemperature and then take the paper tubing 60 which has been madeavailable and secure it in frictional engagement with the end of hosev72which the opening movement of door 12 placed in an accessible osition.Preparation should then be made or using the device and as soon as thedesired temperautre has been reached by the water in reservoir 16, thedual metal thermostat 26 as itbends upwardly will raise valve 32 fromits seat, thus making the water and the medicant it carries availablefor use.

The thermostat 26 as it moves the valve up.- wardly also operates lever47 which is pivoted at 49 and is arranged as shown in Figure 4 to pressdownwardly on thewswitch bar 100 until it returns itto its indicatedposition thus interrupting the electrical current. When the operator isentirelythrough and releases the tube 60 it will be stripped off by reelv73 and its associated mechanism when it abuts member 85.' As theoperator then closes door 12 the entire device isreturned to its normalposition of rest and a new tube 60 is made available for the next user.

The foregoing description and the accompanying drawings clearly disclosea preferred embodiment of my invention but it will be understood thatthis disclosure is merely illustrative and that such changes in theinvention may be made as are fairly with.

to discharge irrigation tips singly; a solution mixing reservoir;discharge tubing permanently-connected to. the discharge of saidreservoir; a 'storing reel for said tubing; means coacting with saiddoor to turn said reel with considerable force when the' door is openedand closed; means for supplying a measured amount of water; means formeasuring and discharging chemicals into said water; electrical meansadapted to heat'said water to a desired temperature; means fordischarging said water when the desired temperature is reached, and aswitch adapted to Acontrol said heating means. p

2. A dispensing device of the class de- .secribed consisting of a wallcabinet; a'coin controlled operating handle; va door closing saidcabinet; a latch for said door adapted to be operated by said handle;means adapted to discharge irrigation tips singly; a solution mixingreservoir; discharge tubing permanently connected to the discharge ofsaid reservoir; a storing reel for said tubing; means coacting with saiddoor to turn said reel with considerable force when the door is openedand closed; means for supplying a measured amount of water; means formeasuring and discharging chemicals into said water; means adapted toheat said water to a desired temperature; an electrical switch adaptedto control said heating means; said operating handle adapted to operatethe door latch, the water measuring means, the electrical switch and thechemical measuring means in order; means for opening the electricalswitch.

3. A dispensing device of the class describedv consisting of a wallcabinet; a coin controlled operating handle; a door closing saidcabinet; a latch for said door adapted to be 'operated by said handle;means adapted to discharge irrigation tips singly consistin of avertically disposed storage rack, a Shelli disposed below said rack, arack bar operated by the cabinet door adapted to eject tips singly; asolution mixing reservoir; discharge tubing permanently connected to thedischarge of said reservoir; a storing reel for said tubing; meanscoacting with said door to turn said reel with considerable force whenthe door is opened and closed ;'means for sup- Y plying a measuredamount of Water; means for measuring and dischar' in chemicals into saidwater; means adapte to eat said water to a desired temperature; anelectric switch adapted to control said heating means; said operatinghandle adapted to operate the door latch, the water measuring means, theelectrical switch and the chemical measuring means in order; means foropening the electrical switch. y

4. A dispensing device of the class. described consistin of a wallcabinet; a coin controlled operatlng handle; a door closing saidcabinet; a latch for said door adapted to be o rated by said handle;means adapted to disc arge irrigation tips singly consisting of avertically disposed storage rack, a shelf dis-4 osed below said rack, arack bar operated y the cabinet door adapted to eject tips singly; asolution mixing reservoir; discharge tubing permanently connected to thedischar e of said reservoir; a storing reel for said tu ing; a gearsecured to said reel; a revolvable shaft, inions secured to said shaft,said pinions disposed to mesh with said reel gear and said rack barwhich coacts with said door to turn said reel with considerable forcewhen the door is vopened and closed; means for supplying a measuredamount of water,;.means for measuring and discharging chemicals intosaid water; means adapted to heat said water to a desired temperature;an electric switch adapted to control said heating means; said operatinghandie' adapted to operate the door latch, the water measuring means,the electricalswitch and thechemical measuring means in order; means foropening the electrical switch.

5. A dispensing device of the class described consisting of a wallcabinet; a coin controlled operating handle; a door closing saidcabinet; a latch for said door adapted to be operated by said handle;means adapted todischarge irrigation tips singly; a solution mixingreservoir ;l dischar e tubing permanently connected to the ischarge ofsaid reservoir; a storin reel for said tubing; means coacting witii saiddoor to turn said reel with considerableforce when the door is openedand closed; means for supplying a measured amount of Water; means formeasuring and discharging chemicals into said water; an electric heatingelement adapted to vheat said water; an electric switch adapted tocontrol said element; a water discharge valve; a thermostatic elementadapted to open said valve at a predetermined tempera-Y ture; saidoperating handle adapted to operate the door latch, the water measuringmeans, the electrical switch and the chemical measurin means in order;means connecting said iermostat and said electric switch to e'ect theopening of said electrical switch when the desired water temperature isreached.

In witnesswhereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 1st day of J anuaA. D. 1930.

' CATHERINE BELL.

